Jeffrey Epstein didn’t own one private island he owned two. And together, Little Saint James and Great Saint James form one of the most notorious pieces of real estate in modern criminal history. Here is everything you need to know: where they are, what they look like, what happened on them, who visited, and what has become of them since Epstein’s death in 2019.

The Two Islands: An Overview

Where Is Epstein Island Located?

Both of Epstein’s islands sit in the US Virgin Islands (USVI), a US territory in the Caribbean Sea. They lie off the southeastern coast of St. Thomas, in the subdistrict known as East End, St. Thomas.

• Little Saint James is located approximately 1.5 miles southeast of St. Thomas. Its recorded address is 124 Conch Bay Road, Little Saint James, USVI.
• Great Saint James sits just 0.4 kilometers southeast of St. Thomas, slightly northwest of Little Saint James making the two islands close neighbors.

The islands are only accessible by boat or helicopter, a feature that proved central to Epstein’s ability to control access and maintain secrecy for nearly two decades.

Little Saint James: The Island at the Center of It All

When Did Epstein Buy His Island?

In April 1998, a company called L.S.J. LLC purchased Little Saint James for $7.95 million. Documents confirm that Jeffrey Epstein was the sole member of L.S.J. The island had previously been listed for $10.5 million and was owned by venture capitalist Arch Cummin Epstein acquired it below asking price.

Little St. James was Epstein’s primary residence, and he called the island “Little St. Jeff.”

How Big Is Little Saint James?

Little Saint James is a small island with an area of 70 to 78 acres (28 to 32 hectares). It is part of the US Virgin Islands, southeast of neighboring Great Saint James, both off the southern coast of the larger St. Thomas island.

By 2019, the island was valued at $63,874,223.

What Did Epstein Build There?

Before Epstein bought the island, several buildings were already present, including the main house, a guest house, an oval-shaped pool, and three cabanas. He kept these structures and massively expanded around them over the following two decades.

A CNN review of thousands of emails, photos, videos, and documents from the DOJ files adds critical new details to how Epstein transformed the island into his personal fiefdom.

Key additions during his ownership included:

• A greatly expanded pool complex with new cabanas
• Staff quarters for an eventual workforce of 70 employees
• A massive sundial
• A helipad and helipad buildings
• Maintenance facilities
• A blue-and-white striped domed building widely referred to online as “the temple”

In the DOJ files, Epstein poured money into details that could impress visitors. He spent nearly $300,000 on a desk described as coming from “the princely house of Lichtenstein,” and almost $100,000 on two mythological terracotta figures that had once adorned the Vienna stock exchange building.

In 2008, Epstein’s estate on Little St. James had 70 staff. According to a former staffer, Epstein insisted on discretion and confidentiality from his employees.

In 2005, Epstein hired the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority to install a combination power and fiber optic cable between St. Thomas and Little St. James, giving the island dedicated data and electric connections, eliminating the need for generators.

The “Temple”

The most discussed structure on the island is a blue-and-white striped domed building overlooking the island’s southwest hillside. The building had, over the years, been referred to as a chapel, a temple, and a music room. In 2026, the New York Times reported that Epstein intended the building to be his “mosque,” complete with enormous tapestries, Islamic gardens, and tiles imported from a mosque in Uzbekistan.

No verified evidence connects the building to ritualistic activity. The word “temple” does not appear in any official legal documents it is a media and internet label.

Great Saint James: The Second Island

Great Saint James is a private island in the US Virgin Islands, located off the east end of St. Thomas. The island is approximately 165 acres (67 hectares) in size.

Epstein purchased Great Saint James in 2016 for $22.5 million, expanding his Caribbean holdings alongside the neighboring Little Saint James.

In April 2016, after the Department of Planning and Natural Resources received complaints about Epstein clearing the island without a permit, a cease and desist was ordered and Epstein was initially fined $280,000, later settling for $70,000.

Epstein had not built anything on Great Saint James prior to his death in 2019.

The island’s cove on the western side called Christmas Cove is a popular snorkeling and mooring spot for charter boats, accessible to day visitors from St. Thomas. This is the only part of either island with any public access.

What Happened on Epstein Island?

For nearly two decades, Little St. James was the perfect tool for Epstein to both cultivate powerful friends and abuse young women and girls. It offered a glamorous setting to attract famous figures and the seclusion he needed to prey on his victims.

A lawsuit from government attorneys in the Virgin Islands alleged Epstein began coercing underage girls and young women into sexual activity on the island as early as 2001 and continued until 2019, the year he was charged with federal sex trafficking crimes and then died in jail. Victims were described as being as young as 12 years old.

A 15-year-old who was forced into sexual acts with Epstein and others attempted to escape the island by swimming.

One victim stated in a court document: “The activities were so obvious and bold that anyone spending any significant time at one of Epstein’s residences would have clearly been aware of what was going on.”

Who Visited Epstein’s Islands?

The wealthy bankers, political leaders, and prominent academics who visited Jeffrey Epstein’s Caribbean island traveled by private jet and spent afternoons scuba diving or riding jet skis. The girls and young women that Epstein shuttled to the island had a drastically different experience: confiscated passports, extensive sexual abuse, and conditions so dire that at least one said she tried to escape by swimming away.

Based on flight logs, boat manifests, staff testimony, and the January 2026 DOJ Epstein Library release of 3.5 million pages, documented visitors include:

• Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly Prince Andrew) paid at least one visit aboard Epstein’s private jet; former staff said he visited multiple times
• Howard Lutnick (US Commerce Secretary) visited with his wife and children in December 2012 for lunch
• Peter Mandelson spent a week on the island in 2004
• Sergey Brin visited with his then-fiancée Anne Wojcicki in 2007
• Reid Hoffman and Joi Ito visited together in November 2014
• Ehud Barak (former Israeli Prime Minister) visited multiple times from 2014 to 2015
• Jes Staley (former Barclays CEO) visited in 2015
• Les Wexner (Victoria’s Secret founder) confirmed his visit in his February 2026 congressional deposition
• Naomi Campbell mentioned by Ghislaine Maxwell in a 2025 DOJ interview transcript as having probably visited the island

Important: Being documented as a visitor does not constitute evidence of criminal activity. Many individuals have stated they had no knowledge of abuse occurring on the island.

The Victim Testimony That Shocked the World

A victim’s statement in the DOJ files described Google co-founder Sergey Brin and 23andMe co-founder Anne Wojcicki’s 2007 visit to the island: “They observed that we did not speak and that we remained mute. They witnessed the trauma on our faces and in our eyes. Sergey and Anne witnessed our souls and bodies riddled with fear. They said nothing. They did nothing.”

Virginia Giuffre the most prominent Epstein accuser alleged in a 2014 affidavit that as an 18-year-old, she participated in a gathering on the island with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and eight other girls who “appeared to be under the age of 18” and did not speak English. Giuffre died by suicide in 2025.

What Happened to Epstein’s Islands After His Death?

After Epstein’s July 2019 arrest on federal sex trafficking charges and his death in federal custody in August 2019, a series of legal and investigative actions followed:

• The FBI searched Little Saint James in 2019, collecting electronic media, documents, and physical evidence
• The USVI Attorney General filed a civil enforcement action in January 2020 alleging the islands were used as part of a criminal enterprise
• The case settled in 2022 with a $105 million payment to the Virgin Islands government
• Both islands were listed for sale at $125 million in March 2022
• In 2023, billionaire asset manager Stephen Deckoff bought both islands for $60 million, with plans to develop a luxury resort
• As of 2026, no construction on either island has been reported

Epstein Island Today (2026)

Both islands remain privately owned by Deckoff’s company, SD Investments, and are not open to the public. The iconic blue-and-gold striped “temple” building has been repainted grey and its doors boarded over.

In May 2026, the island’s holding company filed civil suits against multiple trespassers, describing them as “internet-fame seekers” and “conspiracy theorists” acting with “wanton and reckless indifference.” The suits are part of at least three separate civil actions filed against alleged trespassers by an LLC tied to Deckoff.

The January 2026 release of 3.5 million pages through the DOJ Epstein Library included documents specifically related to activities on Little St. James detailing construction, staffing, supply logistics, visitor records, flight logs, and boat manifests.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Epstein island located?

Both islands Little St. James Island and Great St. James Island are located about two miles off St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.

What is Epstein island called?

Officially, Little Saint James Island (USVI). Epstein himself called it “Little St. Jeff.” It has also been referred to as “Pedophile Island” in media coverage. “Epstein Island” is an informal name.

When did Epstein buy his island?

In April 1998, through a company called L.S.J. LLC, for $7.95 million.

How big is Epstein island?

Little Saint James is 70 to 78 acres (28 to 32 hectares). Great Saint James is approximately 165 acres.

Who owns Epstein island now?

In 2023, billionaire asset manager Stephen Deckoff bought both islands for $60 million, with plans to develop a luxury resort. As of 2026, no construction has been reported.

Can you visit Epstein island?

No — both islands are privately owned, actively patrolled, and not open to the public. Multiple trespassers have been arrested and sued.

What country is Epstein island in?

The US Virgin Islands a US territory in the Caribbean.

How long did Epstein own his island?

Epstein owned Little Saint James from 1998 until his death in August 2019 approximately 21 years.

Conclusion

Jeffrey Epstein’s islands were never simply real estate. For nearly two decades, Little St. James was the perfect tool for Epstein to cultivate powerful friends and, according to survivors and federal investigators, abuse young women and girls. Great Saint James sat largely undeveloped a land grab that never became anything more.

Both islands now sit under the ownership of a billionaire asset manager who bought them from the ruins of Epstein’s estate. No development has happened. The DOJ continues to release files. And on a cliff above the Caribbean, the building once gilded in gold and blue intended, according to the latest reporting, to be Epstein’s personal mosque now sits grey, boarded up, and silent.